In a move to brighten the area around the food vendors on 12th Street between Polett Walk and Montgomery Avenue, workers have began installing new picnic tables, and getting rid of the old seating arrangements.
Carpentry Supervisor Don Kirk said the new picnic tables are being put in place as part of a project to update outdated public locations throughout Main Campus.
“This change has been long overdue, the picnic tables at the food court were very old and the new ones will be a great improvement,” Kirk said. “All the changes we’ve been making around campus will improve Temple’s appearance.”
Some of the vendors sounded excited for the change, although they said Temple didn’t ask their opinion before the tables were installed.
“I appreciate the improved picnic tables. However, it’s really up to the students to decide whether they like them or not,” Richie Jr. of Richie’s Deli said. “Temple Facilities Management didn’t do a survey of the students, even though the students’ reactions are the ones that matter. The food stand owners weren’t asked by Temple if we wanted new picnic tables, even though I do think that it’s a good change.”
Kirk said that officials have received a generally positive reaction from the implementation of the tables.
“We’ve been getting a good reaction in regards to replacing the tables,” Kirk said. “The previous tables were very old and worn out. They’d been due for replacement for a while.”
The project will cost $84,000 and will be completed in the coming weeks, said Senior Vice President for Construction, Facilities and Management James Creedon.
The old benches will be recycled as scrap metal, Creedon said.
Mary Kate Allison can be reached at mary.kathleen.allison@temple.edu.
Sean Carlin contributed to this report.
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